Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Capital improvement projects for the city numerous and focused

WASHOUGAL Theres quite a bit happening in Clark Countys fourth largest city. Washougals capital improvement projects for 2020 are now moving into action and they cover everything from public bike tracks to drinking water for future residents.

Now viewable in a specific page on the citys newly redone main website, each project either launched on Jan. 1, 2020, is being carried over from 2019 or is now listed as complete.

Every capital improvement project the city undertakes is a part of the citys Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) which provides funding for large-scale, high-priority endeavors.

Projects for community infrastructure are roughly an even mix of ongoing and new this year. Most notably is the remodel of the citys Civic Center adjacent to City Hall.

Weve just been agonizing over the completion of the Civic Center siding and windows and upgrades and everything, said Washougal Mayor Molly Coston. Its been lingering so long, but you know, it hasnt been upgraded in 40 years. The perspective of the city is although wed like to have it finished, we want to do it right.

The remodel was started in 2019 and is expected to be completed sometime in February 2020. Included in the project are the installation of new windows and siding, as well as work on city halls restrooms and break areas.

The center is used year-round as a hub for community events such as Meals On Wheels and the cold weather shelter during the winter. The total cost for the remodel is $750,000.

In the realm of parks and outdoor amenities, one of the citys largest and longest undertakings will likely be completed, or at least 90 percent complete in 2020: Schmid Ball Fields.

We thought we were going to be able to do it in five years, you know, put a whole complex of ball fields out there, and of course, we ran into challenges, Coston said. Now Im hoping that well be able to start that project. Were well underway. We have a lot of planning and design in place and the softball league is very committed to helping us achieve our goals this year.

Conceptualized in the early 2000s, the fields have been contracted and expanded little by little, and are now entering their third phase. This final step will include the construction of the third field, making the site viable for tournaments.

A parking lot, additional driveway onto Evergreen Way, lighting, as well as concessions and permanent restrooms will all be parts of phase three. The project will close out at a cost of approximately $2.6 million over the course of close to 20 years.

The property is the school district property. Weve been fortunate to have a very robust, healthy relationship with them over all this time, and I know thatll continue, Coston said. We will provide the funding for the ball fields, theyll provide the facilities and then we sort of jointly share maintenance.

Perhaps the most unique of all current projects is the completion of the second phase of the Hamlik Park Bike Pump Track. The track is already partially open, with the second half powered in part by volunteers and volunteer dollars.

This has been on the books for a couple of years now, and I hope that 2020 will see finality to this where we can do this because theres some real champions in our community to make this happen, said Coston.

Pump tracks are essentially tight circuits consisting of many rolling hills and banked turns usually constructed out of wooden planks, dirt mounds or concrete. The idea is to no pedal and instead gain speed and momentum by pumping the bike up and down on the ups and downs.

The track is aimed at mid-teens with an emphasis on providing an outdoor recreation opportunity as well as a place to teach bike safety and do training. The final and maximum expenditure for the track is $32,000 with the only remaining expense being maintenance.

I know it will be very beneficial not only for kids in our area, but for kids all over the area to come out and do some competitions and challenges and bike safety things, said Coston.

The completion of the majority of the Steamboat Landing Dock occured in 2019, with the final demolition of the upper viewing platform to be completed this year. When all is said and done, the project will have cost $1.5 million.

Finally, with the $20,000 donation from the Hutchinson family, unknown graves in the Historic Cemetery will be labeled with the use of ground penetrating radar.

The largest elements in this category carry over from 2019, with the 32nd Street underpass and the 27th Street grade separation. Analysis for the work at 27th Street has begun and is expected to be complete by the end of 2020.

Once the separation is mapped out, including design and permitting of the 32nd Street underpass location, construction on the underpass is expected to commence. Analysis has been allocated $500,000 with the cost of the underpass construction yet to be determined.

When it comes to travel-by-foot, new and existing trail systems are getting a jumpstart. The brand new Jemtegaard Trail has entered construction and will extend north of Jemtegaard Elementary School to Sunset View Road, where it will turn into a sidewalk.

The trail will be fully lit and connect several neighborhoods. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2020 and will cost $750,000.

The extensive Columbia River Trail System will receive another link in the chain with the connection of the new Port of Camas-Washougal trail going to Steamboat Landing. The section to be installed is 0.6 miles long and shifts from six feet wide to 10 feet wide as it passes South A Street.

The trail system is part of the larger network that can be followed all the way to Steigerwald Wildlife Refuge east of Washougal. The project is expected to be finished in September of 2020, and will close out at $1.9 million from city funds and a state appropriation.

In addition, the area surrounding Hathaway Elementary school will be made safer with installation of sidewalks on 22nd, 23rd and F Streets. This project is expected to be completed in March of 2020 and will cost $242,550 with partial funding supplied by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

When it comes to managing water, Washougal is making attempts to modernize and expand its infrastructure and policies. The citys Water Master Plan which was launched at the start of 2020, is expected to guide the aforementioned efforts. Its development will cost $30,000.

In the spirit of efficiency, Washougal is moving to replace their water meters with Automated Meter Reading (AMR). This over $1 million endeavour is aimed at, allowing city staff to focus on other areas within their department, which supports the Core Services pillar (focusing on cost-effective operations and maintenance, and continuous improvement in customer service, processes, and procedures).

AMR is expected to be widely installed by the end of 2020.

With growth projected on the horizon, the city is also planning for higher demand with the installation of the Woodburn Hill Transmission Line Design. The project would expand the water mains capacities for drinking water and fire flow.

We know that were going to see a lot of growth up there, Coston said. It may happen in 2020, but were looking really pretty much at a 10 year plan from 2020 to 2030. So it gives us a few years to plan for it, and I think were doing the right thing in planning for it before it hits us square in the face.

The nearly $900,000 project began with Jan. 1, 2020 and is expected to be completed by Dec. of 2020.

After completing their biosolids dredge and haul project in 2019, Washougal is moving on to constructing their own biosolids handling facility. This facility would take in solids collected from wastewater treatment and process them onsite. The facility will cost roughly $2.4 million.

In lockstep with the biosolids facility, the city is expecting to upgrade their wastewater management with an anoxic selector, which would allow for much needed increase in capacity, according to the city. The selector is budgeted at just under $1 million.

Finally, the city plans to relocate or upgrade four pump stations across Washougal. Relocation will cost $265,225, with each upgrade costing between $4,000 and $35,000.

Were going to try and work a lot harder at engaging the community before things become an issue, Coston said of the new year overall. 20 years ago, it was pretty easy. You would put something in the paper, or you would hold a town hall, but these days, those really may not be the best ways to engage community.

We'd love to hear your comments!

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Washougal enters the new year with improvement projects new and old - clarkcountytoday.com

Sound Transit is deep in the process of extending a light-rail line over a floating bridge for the first time. Photo Sound Transit

By Vesna Brajkovic, Associate Editor

Each year, rail bridges demand attention to a range of maintenance issues from routine tie replacement to complete structural replacement to keep the aging structures safe and efficient.

Whether for routine maintenance, unplanned repairs or new construction plans, freight and passenger railroads alike invest tens of millions of dollars annually into the bridges that are critical to their systems, as detailed in Progressive Railroadings 2019 MOW Spending Reports.

The following are a few recent bridge projects that have been in the works, have advanced to construction or were completed in 2019 by a transit agency, two Class Is and a commuter railroad.

Sound Transit is deep in the process of extending its Link light-rail line over the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge in Seattle, marking the first time light-rail track will be constructed on a floating bridge. A floating, or pontoon, bridge is one that is constructed using floats instead of anchored piers to support the bridge deck over a body of water.

The bridge project is part of the 14-mile East Link light-rail extension that will connect Seattles International District to Judkins Park across Interstate 90 over Lake Washington by 2023.

To extend light rail onto a floating bridge, Sound Transit was tasked with solving multiple challenges, including addressing weight restrictions, accounting for stray electrical current that could rust utilities and adapting track to the bridges movement, says Rachelle Cunningham, Sound Transits public information officer.

Sound Transit used a high-strength epoxy adhesive to affix almost 9,000 specially engineered lightweight concrete blocks to the bridge deck to support light rail on a floating bridge.

Sound Transit

Typically, light-rail track is supported on a bridge by rebar within the structure. However, in this case, crews needed to avoid drilling holes into the bridge. Creating holes in the structure could compromise the bridges lifespan and the rebar would add weight.

Instead, crews used a high-strength epoxy adhesive called DexG to affix almost 9,000 specially engineered lightweight concrete blocks to the bridges deck.

The blocks were then attached to the bridge on top of corkelast, a shock-absorbing, spongy material designed to isolate stray electrical current coming from light-rail trains. Next, track was set on the blocks with steel tie bars placed between them to maintain gauge, similar to a standard railroad tie system, as Sound Transit officials described in a press release.

Crews also installed overhead catenary system portals and completed post-tensioning of the bridge pontoons to reinforce the concrete with high-strength tensioned strains so the structure can support the weight of light-rail trains and passenger vehicles.

The project also required the construction of specially engineered segments, called track bridges, that compensate for vertical and lateral lake motion over the bridges joints. Track bridges are especially important to install at the locations where light-rail trains travel from fixed track to the floating bridge. To date, crews have installed all eight track bridges.

One of the most difficult tasks was to adapt the rails to the movement of the bridge, Cunningham says.

Since its a first-of-its-kind project, Sound Transit conducted extensive testing of computerized models and physical prototypes of the bridge and its components at the Transportation Technology Center Inc. in Pueblo, Colorado. The agencys design passed all critical test criteria to be able to provide rail operations at planned speeds up to 55 mph, which is the highest speed that Link operates.

The floating bridge originally was built in 1989 with the intention of accommodating high-capacity transit needs in the future, Sound Transit officials say. Now, 30 years later, that plan is being realized as the once high-occupancy vehicle lane on I-90 transforms into a light-rail right of way.

In October 2019, Norfolk Southern Railway completed restoration of the Grand River Bridge in Brunswick, Missouri, nearly a month after 270 feet of the 1,152-foot structure was washed away by heavy rains, flooding and an unusual amount of drift material built up against the structure.

The bridge lost four deck-plate girder spans and three piers. As a result, NS had to redesign the bridge from scratch to fill the gap and restore rail service between Moberly and Kansas City.

Heavy flooding washed out a portion of NS Grand River Bridge last year. Crews restored the bridge in 27 days.

Norfolk Southern Railway

When the bridge washout occurred Oct. 1, the Class I called on Marine Solutions Inc. to scan the river to determine what portions of the structure remained; Hanson Professional Services Inc. to assist in the design of the new bridge; and Massman Construction Co. to lead the reconstruction work.

The construction team mobilized barges and cranes out of St. Louis and arrived on site Oct. 7, moving all the equipment up the Missouri and Grand rivers during flood conditions, Ed Boyle, NSs vice president of engineering, said in an email.

By the time Massman Construction crews positioned their equipment, NS had surveyed the river bottom and determined the layout for the new substructure.

The design called for installation of one 12-pile bent and two drilled shaft piers. The spans were anchored 15 feet or more into the rivers rock bottom, marking the biggest difference in the design from the original bridge in which the spans were supported by concrete piers resting on rock.

Four steel spans that NS stores for emergencies were shipped in for the new superstructure.

There were challenges almost daily when working around the clock to reconstruct this portion of the bridge. These challenges went from getting material to actual construction issues, Boyle said. The key was we worked as a partnership amongst all those involved to persevere and handle these challenges.

To restore service on the heavily traveled route as quickly as possible, crews had to adjust the reconstruction plan, he said. For example, in a typical construction project, one template for aligning the drilled shafts for the pier would be built. Then, after one pier is completed, crews would remove the template and move it on to the next pier.

Under that manner of construction, it would take two weeks to build the piers. To save time, crews instead built two templates to construct the piers simultaneously.

We had a problem setting up the casing for the first drilled shaft when we hit some old timber piling in the way of the casing, Boyle recalled. Where this would have slowed a typical project down while the timber pile was removed, we simply jumped over to the other template for the other pier and did not miss a beat in setting the casings.

Hayes Drilling Inc. drilled four shafts, installed reinforcing steel and poured concrete in each shaft over a total of four days an unprecedented amount of time, Boyle said. Coreslab Structures supplied the precast concrete caps.

The [NS] engineering team always seems to excel when these natural disasters occur, but their work at the Grand River exceeded my wildest expectations, Boyle said of the project.

For the past several years, BNSF Railway Co. has proposed building two bridges across Lake Pend Oreille and Sand Creek at Sandpoint in Bonner County, Idaho, to reduce congestion on the Class Is single-track mainline in the area.

The bridges would be part of a second line in northern Idaho where BNSFs mainline has become an operational constraint. Currently, the single track requires trains to wait for clearance to cross the existing bridge, which creates congestion on the mainline, yard and siding tracks, according to a Federal Register notice regarding the bridge proposals environmental assessment.

Another problem: Trains waiting to cross the existing bridge often block vehicular traffic at public and private grade crossings.

Currently, the lines daily capacity through Sandpoint and across Lake Pend Oreille is about 79 trains, and average daily traffic on the line segment is about 60 trains. The additional bridges would not increase or decrease rail traffic, but would increase the efficiency of rail traffic already moving through the area by allowing trains to cross the bridge more quickly, BNSF officials believe according to the notice.

In September 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard reviewed the final environmental assessment for the project and found it met federal requirements, wouldnt have a significant impact on the environment and wouldnt obstruct navigation. Since the BNSF bridges would cross U.S. navigable waters, the Coast Guard was required to approve the plans.

However, the project has faced opposition from local environmental groups seeking a higher level of environmental review, and from Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstaf, who raised concerns about the potential for increased rail traffic and possible derailments.

In response, BNSF added Federal Railroad Administration accident statistics and additional details to its plan to better characterize derailment risks and provide more information on the railroads spill response planning for different types of spills under various weather conditions. The railroad also included in its proposal the Lake Pend Oreille Geographic Response Plan, which will be implemented in the event of a rail accident. Finally, BNSF maintained that traffic wouldnt increase on its line due to the construction of the bridges.

The market conditions influencing train traffic growth in the study area exist with or without construction of a second mainline track and associated bridges, according to the notice.

Previously proposed alternatives to the project included adding a second mainline east of the existing mainline, creating alternate routes or shifting traffic to other railroads. But each was dismissed based on infeasibility or impracticability, BNSF officials said in the notice.

In October 2019, MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) completed the replacement of a 108-year-old rail bridge over Nassau Boulevard in Garden City, New York.

Between 2010 and 2019, the bridge was struck by motor vehicles 43 times, with 16 of those collisions occurring between 2018 and 2019. Due to its low clearance, the bridge was the third most-often hit structure in the railroads system, LIRR officials said in a press release.

MTA Long Island Rail Road replaced a 108-year-old rail bridge in Garden City, New York.

MTA LIRR

The original bridge which dated back to 1911 was 11 feet, 6-inches above the roadway, well below modern design standards. The bridge now stands two-and-a-half-feet higher.

In addition, the new structure includes room for a future third track, which will be added in 2022. The track will expand capacity, allow reverse commuting and increase flexibility so the railroad can work around and more quickly recover from service disruptions, LIRR officials said.

The bridge replacement was part of the LIRR Expansion Project, which aims to upgrade major bridges and grade crossings along the railroads mainline.

Email questions and comments to vesna.brajkovic@tradepress.com.

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Rail Insider-Railroads rely on traditional and inventive ways to (re)build bridges. - Progressive Rail Roading

Highlights for this week include Public Market Financing Update, Truman Olson Update, Urban Design (Exact Sciences, LaFollette H.S, & Childrens Museum, ALRC (Visions, Garver, Canopy) and the future of golf.

8:00 am Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Yahara WINs Executive Committee Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Operations Building 1610 Moorland Rd Madison, WI 53713

4:30 pm Finance Committee Madison Municipal Building 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Room 215 Madison, WI 53703

5:00 pm Notice of Possible Quorum of the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center Board Monona Terrace 1 John Nolen Dr, Room Community Terrace Madison, WI 53703

5:00 pm Landmarks Commission Madison Municipal Bldg 215 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Room 153 Madison, WI 53703

5:00 pm Water Quality Technical Advisory Committee Madison Water Utility 119 E Olin Ave, Room Conference Room B Madison, WI 53713

5:30 pm Plan Commission City-County Building 210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Room 201 Madison, WI 53703

5:30 pm Police and Fire Commission City-County Building 210 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Room 507A Madison, WI 53703

5:30 pm Ad Hoc Landmarks Ordinance Review Committee Madison Municipal Building 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Room 153 Madison, WI 53703

5:30 pm Madison Arts Commission Madison Municipal Building 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Room 013 Madison, WI 53703

5:30 pm Madison Arts Commission Arts Grant Program Madison Municipal Building 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Room 013 Madison, WI 53703

10:00 am Dane County Narcotics Task Force Steering Committee Monona City Hall 5211 Schluter Rd Monona, WI 53716

10:00 am Street Use Staff Commission City-County Bldg 210 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Room 108 Madison, WI 53703

3:00 pm Integrated Pest Management Policy Review Task Force Madison Municipal Building 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Room 202 Madison, WI 53703

4:30 pm Urban Design Commission Madison Municipal Building 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Room 153 Madison, WI 53703

5:00 pm Economic Development Committee CANCELLED Madison Municipal Building 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Room 260 Madison, WI 53703

5:15 pm Presidents Work Group To Review Administrative Procedure Memoranda (APM) Applicable to Alders City County Building 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Room 417 Madison, WI 53703

5:30 pm Alcohol License Review Committee City-County Building 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Room 201 Madison, WI 53703

6:00 pm Madison Area Transportation Planning Board (MATPB) Citizen Advisory Committee MATPB Office 100 State Street, Room Suite 400 Madison, WI 53703

6:00 pm Task Force on Municipal Golf in Madison Parks Goodman Maintenance Facility 1402 Wingra Creek Parkway Madison, WI 53715

8:00 am Commission of the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Maintenance Facility- Training Room 1610 Moreland Road Madison, WI 53713

?? Landlord and Tenant Issues Committee 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Room 010 (Madison Municipal Building)

4:00 pm Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center Board Monona Terrace 1 John Nolen Dr, Room Hall of Fame room Madison, WI 53703

5:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals Madison Municipal Building 215 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Room 013 Madison, WI 53703

Robert and Tammy Downing, owners of property at 3905 Priscilla Lane, request side and rear yard setback variances to construct an attached garage addition and a dwelling addition onto the existing single-story single-family dwelling. Alder District #5

Christi Weber, representative of the owner of property at 501 Walton Place, requests a reverse-corner side yard setback variance to construct a second story addition atop the existing single-story single-family dwelling. Alder District #6

5:00 pm Equal Opportunities Commission 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Room 153 (Madison Municipal Building)

5:00 pm Notice of Possible Quorum of City of Madison Committee(s) Monona Terrace 1 John Nolen Dr, Room Community Terrace Madison, WI 53703

A possible quorum of the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center Board, Monona Terrace Booking Event Assistance Advisory Committee and Room Tax Commission may be present at Monona Terrace for a non-board related, social event being held on Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 5 p.m., an observation area will be available. Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, 1 John Nolen Drive.

5:00 Downtown Coordinating Committee 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Room 206 (Madison Municipal Building)

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City of Madison Week Ahead 1/13/20 - forwardlookout.com

Are you thinking of a new look for your bathroom or kitchen ? A new shower area or a replacement floor?

PVC cladding offers an attractive and convenient alternative to traditional tiles. And Enviroclad, in Kilkenny, have designs and colours to meet all requirements.

Enviroclads cladding is high quality, stylish and versatile, designed to create the look and feel of natural marble, stone, or brick and to provide a striking, seamless finish.

It is considerably faster and cheaper to install than traditional tiles, because it does not not require specialist fitting, and there is no need for grouting. It also puts an end to mildew and condensation issues and lets you create striking visual effects, making your rooms as individual as you are.

Enviroclad decorative PVC cladding offers beauty and convenience for bathrooms, showers, kitchens and other areas of the home. It is an attractive, hygienic and versatile alternative to traditional tiled finishes and comes in a wide range of traditional and contemporary designs and colours to suit all applications.

The durable, wipe-clean panels are virtually maintenance-free. Minimal preparation is required prior to installation and no special skills or tools are needed.

Enviroclad decorative PVC cladding can be installed over existing tiled surfaces and directly onto blockwork, saving you time and money.

Enviroclad has cladding for outdoor purposes as well decking, canopies and external walls, for instance. And Enviroclad solutions are not only for the home.

We provide bespoke cladding solutions for use in the food, pharmaceutical, leisure, retail and manufacturing industries, says Managing Director Mary Moylan.

We are the answer for all sorts of domestic and other commercial installations. Our extensive range of products includes hygienic PVC sheeting, decorative PVC panels, stone-effect cladding and many other construction plastics.

Enviroclads range is vast. The company has polycarbonate sheeting, perspex sheeting, PVC skirting, PVC soffit and fascia boards.

It supplies PVC ceiling boards, PVC guttering and downpipes, exterior PVC wall cladding, vinyl siding, decorative PVC wall panels and plastic wall panels.

It has wall cladding for your bathroom, PVC cladding for showers, PVC cladding for wet rooms, commercial PVC wall cladding, PVC wall cladding for kitchens, and cladding with design features to connect to Altro and Polyflor safety flooring or for high-risk food production areas.

The Enviroclad range has to be seen to be truly appreciated. And the place to see it is at the Enviroclad Shop, Unit 57B, Hebron Industrial Estate, Kilkenny.

You can get a feel for it all by gong to the companys website where there is an online shop and an installation guide which shows how simple it is to transform your home with Enviroclad PVC cladding.For more details, call the Kilkenny store on 056 775 2866, email info@enviroclad.com or log on to: https://enviroclad.com/?utm_source=Kilkenny%20Now&utm_medium=Banner%20Ad&utm_campaign=KK%20Now%20JAN%202020

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SPONSORED: Transform your home with Enviroclad - the cheaper, faster alternative to traditional tiles - Kilkenny Now

A new year means new opportunities and, while resolutions made in January rarely survive until February, there are some actions we need to put on our calendars so help make 2020 the best it can be for us on the farm and in our lawns and gardens.

So lets begin with January.

January is meeting month; a time when people gather and learn new techniques or reinforce old methods. There will be several opportunities in January and February to attend meetings and conferences that will help us be more efficient. These range from the annual Shepherds Symposium next Saturday to the Virginia Tech Beef Health Conference at the end of the month. In between, Wytheville will once again host the Southwest Virginia Grassland and Forage Conference on Jan. 21.

In February, we need to be out in our fields and pastures looking for opportunities to improve the health of our soils. February is a great month (most times not in 2019) to collect soil samples and determine our fertilizer needs for the coming spring and summer. It is also a great time to renovate pastures and hayfields by frost seeding clover. Using this method, you simply scatter clover seed into existing grassland. The sod needs to be well clipped or slightly overgrazed to facilitate the seed getting to the soil, but it is great way to improve grazing animal performance without too much input costs.

February can also be a great time to get the sprayer back out. Warm days (above 50 degrees) can offer the opportunity to blister several weeds such as thistles, buttercups, henbit and bedstraw. If your fields were yellow, white or purple last spring, use this opportunity. One added benefit to treating fields this time of year is your chances of killing the neighbors garden is all but none existent; however, this only works if you use the correct chemical in the correct amount on the correct target. Know your enemy.

March is a good time to sow some more hardy crops such as spring oats, but is probably too early (cool) for grass seeding. Apply your fertilizers now (although you can give cover crops a shot of nitrogen in February again in warmer weather). One strategy that can work well is to split your fertilizer applications especially in hay crops. Put on half your fertilizer needs now and put on the remainder after the first cutting. March is also a good time to move cattle and livestock to cleaner pastures. Animals that have been shorted on nutritional needs during the winter (and our hay this year is short on both supply and nutrients generally) can find themselves in distress in the cold days of March. Add in mud from cold March rains and cows getting ready to have calves and you have the recipe for a disaster.

April is really two months. The first part of April is a good time to reseed grasses in both our fields and lawns. It is also when we need to make sure our mowers and planters are ready to go. Early April is also when many people begin the process of wasting money. The return of warm weather gets everyone stirred up to make garden. There are some vegetables that can be growing during this time, but, for the most part, both the plants and your pocketbook will be rewarded by planting later in the season. A complete list of garden crops and their planting dates is available at the extension office.

Late April is a time of readiness. If the weather is good, corn can be put in the ground and hay crops need to be coming down. Keeping a careful eye on both the weather and your grasses will help you determine the time to go. Being too early can be bad, but you never really catch up from getting behind.

In our area, with the exception of a pure stand of timothy (which is rare), every hay field needs to be put down in May. Weather and work schedules may interfere, but the loss of nutrients by letting crops get too mature amounts to millions of dollars of losses every year. Mowing in May also means you can get that second shot of fertilizer out and working before the dry weather of summer sets in. Nitrogen is water soluble but it is also volatile in warm weather. We want our soil nutrients moving to the roots, not boiling skyward.

The final month we will look at in this column is June.

June is a good time to get the sprayer back out, but be careful. Gardens and bees are out so be very deliberate in your efforts. That said, early June is a great time to treat our hay feeding areas for spiny amaranth or spiny pigweed while it is small. You can also go after some of the bedstraw areas (the white clouds of weeds you see in hayfields). For homeowners, June is also the month you need to treat your hemlocks and conifers for pests such as bagworms.

Later this spring, we will make our plans for the summer and fall of 2020, but, in the meantime, prepare yourself for a great 2020. It is going to be the best year we will get for the next 12 months.

Jan. 11--Shepherds Symposium, Virginia Tech. Call 540-231-9159; you must preregister.

Jan. 15--VQA Steer and Heifer Sale, Tri State Livestock Market.

Jan. 15-17--VA Farm Show, Fishersville.

Jan. 17--Our Great Gator Giveaway Drawing, noon, at the Virginia Farm Show, Fishersville.

Jan. 20--VQA Steer Take Up, Tri State Market.

Jan. 20--Farm Management Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Farm Bureau Building, Marion. Topic is BQA Recertification.

Jan. 21--VFGC Winter Conference, The Meeting Place, Wytheville.

Jan. 22--VQA Heifer Take Up, Tri State Market.

Jan. 27-30--VCE Annual Meeting, Hotel Roanoke.

Dr. Andy Overbay is Smyth Countys agriculture and natural resources extension agent.

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Extension Answers: 2020 resolutions for the farm and garden - Southwest Virginia Today

By Andy Villamarzo

Hernando Sun sports reporter

TAMPA- Its a debate that has been ongoing since the day Jameis Winston was drafted back in April of 2015 among Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans all over social media and football chat rooms. The time is now for making a crucial decision on whether Tampa Bay retains their No. 1 pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. Should Tampa Bay retain quarterback Jameis Winston?

The argument can always slide both ways like Winstons inconsistencies to play well throughout the measure of a regular season. Whether you want to look at Winstons 4-touchdown days against the New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams And Detroit Lions or ponder how he could throw five picks versus the Carolina Panthers and four against both the New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans. Nonetheless, Winston has yet to produce the kind of consistency that fans and even his own coaches would like to see on a game to game basis. Theres a lot to intake here when diagnosing the career of Winston to this point.

Whether its been Winston under the guidance of Lovie Smith, Dirk Koetter and now Bruce Arians, all have or are well regarded amongst those in NFL coaching circles. To be fair with the former, Smith, the now Illinois Illini head coach only got two seasons in Tampa Bay, in which he improved the Buccaneers from 2-14 to 6-10. A couple weeks after the season, however, saw the Glazers family dismiss Smith after just two seasons which could be tied to his desire to add more coaches to his staff, a demand met for Arians (largest staff in the NFL).

Enter Koetter, who was Smiths offensive coordinator and had previous coordinating experience in Atlanta and Jacksonville. Albeit it was Koetters first head coaching gig in the NFL, the 2016 season was a hit. Despite Winston throwing 18 interceptions, Tampa Bays defense ranked in the top 15 en route to a 9-7 campaign. The success of 2016 brought upon major expectations for 2017, including the signing of wide receiver DeSean Jackson.

Those expectations werent met, as Tampa Bay floundered to a 5-11 record behind significant issues on the defensive side of the ball. The same issues parlayed into the 2018 campaign and a 3-game suspension of Winston after an embarrassing Uber incident in the off-season led to a surprisingly good start behind journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick. After a 2-2 record, Winston was reinserted as the incumbent starter, but was benched after an awful showing versus the Cincinnati Bengals (four interceptions). The 2018 season ended with Winston getting another shot under Koetter and after a brief resurgence, Tampa Bay sputtered to another 5-11 record and the firing of Koetter.

Enter Arians, the self-proclaimed quarterback whisperer, who stated prior to the 2019 season that Tampa Bay already had a quarterback it could win with. After a 5,000-yard, 33-touchdown, 30-interception season, Arians sounded conflicted in comments after the season about Winston. The former Arizona Cardinals head coach mentioned things like we will not beat ourselves next year and we can win with this quarterback, we can definitely win with another one werent exactly badges of honor when it came to giving Winston any praise.

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Should the Tampa Bay Buccaneers bring back quarterback Jameis Winston? - Hernando Sun

NEW CONSTRUCTION in the exciting Alexander Woods neighborhood by Payne Family Homes. This 3,178 s/f, 1.5 story has 4 BD, 2.5 BA, a main flr Master suite & a 4 CAR GARAGE (4th car is tandem). Features inc 9 clngs w/vlts, gas FP w/stone surround, Deluxe Kitchen, staggered height cabinets w/hardware, Quartz c-tops, island w/seating bar, st steel appl, butlers pantry, W/I pantry, frml DR, engineered wood in the main living areas, large Mstr W/I closet, Luxury Mstr Bath w/dual shower, raised height Mstr vanities w/wave bowls, a Loft, W/I closets in every bdr, Jeld Wen low E windows, tall bsmt pour, R/I bath & more. The ext is elegant w/brick, low maint siding, arch shingles, full yard sod & prof landscape. This premier Chesterfield location is near some of the regions top employers, popular shopping areas, restaurants, commuter byways & in the sought after Parkway Central school dist. Enjoy easy access to Hwy 40/61, medical facilities, outstanding parks, recreation & Lambert Int Airport.

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29 of the Most Expensive Homes for Sale in the St. Louis Area - STLtoday.com

Three-year-old custom-built modern-day farmhouse is a 3-time award-winning Architecture & Design home nestled on a one-acre lot in Frontenac. Oversized custom pivot door, light-filled open floor plan, vaulted ceilings, floating staircase, clerestory windows, and double-sided fireplace. Kitchen has breakfast room and butlers pantry with designer fixtures, finishes, and appliances, handmade tile accent, and dual dishwashers. Main floor master hosts a huge spa-like bath with double vanities, built-in washer/dryer, free-standing tub and huge shower with steam capabilities. 3 upstairs bedrooms with en-suite baths and laundry space. Additional 700 sq ft is a future bedroom and bonus space. 2 offices on the main floor, mudroom, water closet, 10' pour walkout basement with rough-ins. Geothermal heating/cooling, automated home lighting, sound and power shades on windows. Native landscaping and passive solar light captured to make this home energy and water-efficient.

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10 of the Most Expensive Homes for Sale in the Park Hills Area - Daily Journal Online

Looking for TWO HOMES on one parcel? Here is your chance to live on 1 ac in a spacious main home, plus have a separate rental or guest home with its own address, master bed & bath, kitchen, living room, garage, and a separate pool house with two more guest bedrooms & bath. With approximate 5400 square feet of living space combined inside, outside you will enjoy the pool, spa, shower, patio with fireplace, kitchen, and BBQ. The yard is compete with a playground structure near the wooden bridge leading you to the two-story playhouse. Inside the main home, you will find the large kitchen with walk in pantry, living room, family room, entertaining barroom complete with refrigerated wine storage and sink. An au pair style guest room, and large master bedroom complete the 4 bed, 4 bath home.

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42 of the Most Expensive Homes for Sale on the Central Coast - Lompoc Record

Depending on the real estate market, buying a fix-and-flip or a handyman special may seem like a good strategy to get into the housing market. Although HGTV makes it all look so easy, the reality can be complicated, expensive and risky.

Here are five money-losing mistakes homeowners make when they renovate:

Even professional appraisers recognize that home renovations arent just about return on investment (ROI). According to the Appraisal Institute of Canada, renovations pay off in three ways:Increasing the selling price of your homeIncreasing your enjoyment of your home

If your goal is to increase the value of the home enough to make a profit on a quick flip, gutting the kitchen, building an addition or replacing all the floors may actually end up losing you money in the end.

Likewise, if youre renovating a house you intend to stay in, you may regret cheaping out or cutting corners on the finishing if it sours your enjoyment of your home.

How much should you spend? According to home stager Gabrielle Grawey, it depends on the overall value of the home and what is typical within your neighbourhood.

The budget of someones house dictates the value of the renovation, Grawey said. If youre gutting your kitchen or bath and replacing with luxury when the current value of house doesnt match that, you can expect you will lose a good part of that investment.

Its not an investment unless you can have a reasonable expectation of making a profit. Some upgrades are more likely than others to boost your selling price.

According to a homeowners guide produced by the appraisal institute, the renos with the best payoff for sellers are kitchen and bath upgrades, repainting, cosmetic updates to dated or worn finishings, and decluttering.

The association notes that the renos that bring more joy than ROI are things like finishing a basement, adding a garage, sunroom or deck, along with fencing and landscaping. Better not to sink your money into these upgrades unless youre planning to stay a while and enjoy them.

A rule of thumb: the longer you intend to stay in a home, the more reasonable it is to spend money renovating it. Even if the renos dont increase the value of the home by enough to cover what you spent, if you experience greater happiness while living in the home, that may be enough payoff to justify the cost.

According to Remodeling Magazines annual survey measuring return on investment on home renovations, pretty much every major reno will probably be a money-losing one. The U.S. magazine compares the average cost for 22 common remodelling projects with the typical return upon the sale of the home in 136 American markets. In the 2019 survey, the highest ROI was for a garage door replacement, which recouped 97.5 per cent of the investment on average in other words, losing only 2.5 per cent.

That doesnt mean theres no way to make money on a flip. If you do some of the work yourself, theres more room to profit. Local market conditions will also have an impact. In a hot housing market, a renovated house may sell more quickly or be more likely to get multiple offers, which could also boost ROI.

If your goal in renovating is to spruce up a home for sale, your best bet is to start with the essentials: take care of basic home maintenance, repair whats broken, get the house professionally cleaned, and give the house a fresh coat of paint in neutral colours. Leave major renovations to the next owner.

Weve all seen those older homes with vintage mid-century tiles in the bathroom (that now seem kind of awesome), different shades of cheap laminate in each bedroom, real hardwood in the hallway, carpet in one room and a brand-new Ikea kitchen. It makes you wonder, what is this houses identity, anyway?

When it comes time to sell, patchwork renovations can be worse than no upgrades at all, said Tanya Nouwens, a RE/MAX Royal Jordan realtor and home stager.

According to Nouwens, its crucial to keep renovations in context with the home and neighbourhood. If the whole home is in a 1980s time warp, upgrading only the kitchen or bathroom can make everything else seem shabbier.

If the whole house is dated, renovating the kitchen draws attention to other parts that are shabby, Nouwens said. If a home is in a time period, I leave it in that time period.

Its fun to go shopping for tile, upgrade kitchen countertops or pretty up your yard with new landscaping. Yet if you blow your budget on cosmetic upgrades and neglect essential repairs or maintenance, youll not only end up scaring away potential buyers, but you could potentially face frighteningly high repair bills later on.

When it comes to maintaining the worth of the property, replacing the roof, updating climate-control systems, replacing windows and doors, updating electrical systems and repairing structural defects are the most important priorities, according to the appraisers institute.

Make sure these unsexy but essential aspects of your home are in good order. Buyers will often be willing, even keen, to update an old kitchen or repaint rooms to suit their taste, but no homeowner looks forward to replacing shingles or shoring up a buckling foundation.

Upscale master suite additionJob cost: $271,470Resale value: $136,820Cost recouped: 50.4 per cent

Mid-range backyard patioJob cost: $56,906Resale value: $31,430Cost recouped: 55.2 per cent

Upscale bathroom additionJob cost: $87,704Resale value: $51,000Cost recouped: 58.1 per cent

Mid-range master suite additionJob cost: $130,986Resale value: $77,785Cost recouped: 59.4 per cent

Upscale major kitchen remodelJob cost: $131,510Resale value: $78,524Cost recouped: 59.7 per cent

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BRIANA TOMKINSON: Planning to fix-and-flip? Here are five home-renovation mistakes - TheChronicleHerald.ca